logistics of bonding a bonded pair with two new rabbits

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 4 months ago by tanlover14.

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- 10/14/2013 at 5:05 PM
  lindsay715
  Participant
  152 posts
  Hi guys,
  
  It’s been ages since I posted.. eek!
  
  My boyfriend and I adopted two rescues last week. That makes four bunnies with my bonded pair Wesley and Bluebell. So far the new buns, Bartleby (neutered male) and Duchess (spayed female), are separate from each other and my bonded pair. I am going to wait for a month or so to start actively bonding. However, I am a bit confused about how to start introducing them.
  
  I don’t have any set plans for their bonding – I want them to figure it out naturally. If Bartleby and Duchess get along well, that’s great. If one of the new buns settles into a trio with Wes and Bluebell, that’s great too, even if one wants to be on their own. If no one bonds, that’s fine too.
  
  My question is how do I start introducing them to each other? Should I keep Wesley and Bluebell together when they meet the other buns, or should I keep it to individual sessions? Any other advice on this situation?
  
  Thanks guys!
  
  xoxo
  
  Lindsay
  
  Bluebell and Wesley
  
  Duchess
  
  Bartleby
- 10/14/2013 at 11:16 PM
  tanlover14
  Participant
  3617 posts
  Hey there!
  
  I love seeing the possibility of large groups! Having a bonded quintet, literally nothing makes me happier than all my buns flopped together in a big ole pile.
  
  In my experience, it has been about trying a multitude of different things until settling on one specific area that seemed to be working. I tried bonding doing single pairs and I also did dates in a large group. I basically kept track of what happened during which dates and used this to determine whether things seemed more positive in a group or in the singles. I would also suggest trying different forms of group bonding. Say try it once in the kitchen or bath tub on a slippery surface and then trying something like a larger sized box. A box worked really well for bonding my group as I could keep them in there with no distractions from me (unless it was to shake the box vigorously or to bang on something to make a loud noise if they were bickering or chasing). This forced them together but also gave me complete control over the situation. Personally, with my group, I have found that when I bond in pairs and then attempt to add into a larger group the dynamic completely changes – so with my group it has worked best to stick to the larger group bonding all at once. It’s really about trying different situations and seeing which ones work for your bunnies the best!
  
  Here’s some links from my buns and some others who have bonded larger groups. Hopefully they will help give you an idea of things to look for while bonding as well as give you some unique ideas to try!
  
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/125513/Default.aspx
  
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/125145/Default.aspx
  
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/123420/Default.aspx
  
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/123358/Default.aspx 
  
  Hope this helps! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
- 10/16/2013 at 11:01 PM
  lindsay715
  Participant
  152 posts
  Thanks! These links are great. Hopefully things will go nicely…
- 10/17/2013 at 6:12 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Congrats on your new buns! Tanlover is def the one to give you advice! Good luck and keep us updated!
- 10/18/2013 at 8:09 PM
  tanlover14
  Participant
  3617 posts
  Don’t be discouraged if they don’t go nicely at first! It takes a lot of commitment on your part also. I have a rabbit blog called Wheek Wheek Thump; it has some interesting bonding articles I’ve written if you want to check those out also. Some are unique different techniques, while one is what some people forget when bonding their bunnies… such as the expectations they place on their rabbits and how they should try and understand why this process can be so difficult.
  
  Not saying you don’t understand this stuff already but honestly, sometimes in the middle of bonding you need someone else to explain things better so you can keep your head on straight and not get so discouraged. Believe me when I say, I know!
- 10/21/2013 at 10:37 PM
  lindsay715
  Participant
  152 posts
  No that sounds wonderful! I do have one question about something you may have encountered…
  
  So I have not started major bonding sessions with any of the bunnies. But Bluebell (the dominant bunny of my current pair) has taken an interest in Bartleby and basically immediately started leaving poops by his room when he moved in. She also started nipping him through the gate in front of his room. He would keep going back to the gate every time she showed up, even though he would inevitably get nipped. So we put up a makeshift wall in the hallway so Bluebell couldn’t go up to his gate. But the few times she has broken through the wall, same thing – territorial poos and nips.
  
  Any advice for approaching this situation? I’m a little concerned about introducing these two.
  
  We did a very brief stress bonding & bathtub introduction with Wesley and Bartleby. The stress bonding went well enough but after a few minutes in the tub together they became aggressive – Bartleby nipping Wesley and Wesley subsequently trying to hump Bartleby. Oof. It was nothing too extreme, but they definitely did not hit it off.
  
  I’m going to look into your blog tanlover, thanks so much! (: I definitely can use all the insight I can get at this point, as I am sensing that this is going to be quite the project!
- 10/22/2013 at 10:25 PM
  tanlover14
  Participant
  3617 posts
  Simple question with a simple answer. He’s simply being territorial and this is COMPLETELY and expected behavior when he’s in his area and another bunny approaches “his” area. Do NOT let either bunny have access to each other until bonded. None! Not even a little snippet through a fence. Absolutely nothing. They will only agitate each other further and make bonding more difficult for you so either move one bunny or create some barrier where there is NO possible way for interaction.
  
  Then give them a few days to cool off without thinking about the other horrrible rabbits scent and begin bonding again.
  
  The bonding session went completely normal also. So don’t be worried. Two of my bonded boys attempted ripping each others heads off the first time they met so don’t feel discouraged! It only took a month to bond them!
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